1. California Used Mattress Recovery and Recycling Act
August 8, 2016
Mike O’Donnell - Managing Director

2. What is the MRC?
In 2013, California passed SB-254 creating a statewide mattress recycling program
Mattress Recycling Council (MRC) was created by the International Sleep Products Association (ISPA), the trade association for the mattress industry
Non-profit with targeted task of implementing recycling laws in states with supporting legislation (CT, CA, RI)
Certified by, and have oversight by CalRecycle

3. Primary Objectives Increase the number of mattresses recycled
Effective communication strategy
Proactively address illegal mattress dumping
Minimize consumer recycling fee

4. How is the Program Funded?
$11.00 per unit fee on all sales into CA
Fee visible on receipt
Applies to all in-state and on-line sales
Collected directly by retailers and remitted to MRC

5. Mattress Recyclers
7 companies, 11 locations under contract as deconstruction sites
Soft launched the program; expanding each month
Have capacity to service entire state
Over 450,000 units (matts and box springs) YTD 

6. Solid Waste Facility Collection Network
All permitted solid waste facilities are eligible
Contracted locations will accept mattresses from consumers at no cost
Over 100 no-cost drop off locations so far

7. Further Expansion?
One-day collection events augmenting existing infrastructure
MRC provides on-site labor, trailer, transport and recycling at no cost
Best coordinated with other products (HHW, e- waste, paint, white goods, tires)
Non-profits, rural mattress retailers, university clean-outs, military installations, others

8. Illegal Dumping Program structured to prevent illegal dumping through:
- No cost retailer pick-up from consumer
- No cost drop off at solid waste facilities
- Consumer incentive at recycling facilities
$750,000 fund established for 2016
Basic annual reporting required
Over 50 registered collectors so far!
We have no data; first year of program will establish baseline. We can adjust program if necessary.

9. Communications Industry: mattressrecyclingcouncil.org
Links to laws, plans, registration
Retailer education and print media
Consumers: ByeByeMattress.com
Collection site locator
Recycling fee information
Bi-lingual receipt attachments
Multi-media (video attachment)

10. Continuous Improvement
New locator just launched!
New web-site coming soon!
Retailer access; upstream product diversion
Contracting challenges
Voluntary participation
Contracting delays and legal review
Changing rate structures

11. Next Steps:
Establish more free drop-off collection locations in under serviced areas.
More collectors in the illegal dump program; we need data
Continue to pursue non-compliant retailers (fee collection and no-cost take back)
Change solid waste contracting text to mandate participation in CalRecycle stewardship initiatives
Promote recycling vs landfill

12. Why it works: Lessons learned from previous legislation
Mattress industry supported and engaged
Advisory committee paved way for Plan approval
Non-hazardous product
Recyclable product, residual value
Easily distinguished in solid waste stream
Experienced management team
Existing recycler network

13. Mike O’Donnell 206-498-5005 mikeo@mattressrecyclingcouncil.org
Questions?
Mike O’Donnell